Association of State Wetland Managers

Association of State Wetland Managers
Name	Association of State Wetland Managers
Abbreviation	ASWM
Type	Nonprofit organization
Founded	1983
Headquarters	Berne, New York
Region served	United States
Focus	Wetland science, wetland policy, conservation

Association of State Wetland Managers The Association of State Wetland Managers is a nonprofit organization founded in 1983 that supports state and tribal wetland programs and advises on wetland science and policy. The organization works at the intersection of environmental law, natural resource management, and intergovernmental coordination, engaging with federal agencies, tribal authorities, and international conservation bodies. It collaborates with state agencies, academic institutions, and nongovernmental organizations to advance wetland protection, restoration, and sustainable use.

History

The organization was established in 1983 amid a period of regulatory development following landmark statutes and decisions such as the Clean Water Act, the Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899, and the evolving jurisprudence exemplified by Rapanos v. United States. Early engagement included interactions with agencies like the United States Environmental Protection Agency and the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, and collaborations with state entities such as the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. Over time the association has interfaced with national initiatives driven by actors including the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the United States Geological Survey, and the Natural Resources Conservation Service. The group's historical work reflects responses to events and programs such as the National Wetlands Inventory, the North American Wetlands Conservation Act, and major litigation and policy shifts involving the Supreme Court of the United States.

Mission and Objectives

The organization's mission centers on improving wetland protection and management through science-based policy advice, technical assistance, and capacity building for state and tribal programs. Objectives include supporting implementation of federal statutes like the Endangered Species Act, coordinating with multilateral frameworks such as the Convention on Biological Diversity, and promoting best practices informed by research from universities like Duke University, University of Michigan, and University of California, Davis. The association also aims to integrate conservation initiatives aligned with programs run by the World Wildlife Fund, the Nature Conservancy, and the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

Organizational Structure and Membership

The association is governed by a board of directors composed of representatives from state and tribal agencies, academic partners, and conservation organizations. Member entities include state environmental agencies such as the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, and the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, as well as tribal authorities and regional bodies like the Great Lakes Commission and the Gulf States Marine Fisheries Commission. The organization liaises with federal partners including the Army Corps of Engineers, the Bureau of Land Management, and the National Park Service. Its membership model supports technical committees, working groups, and advisory panels drawing experts from institutions such as Cornell University, Yale University, and Oregon State University.

Programs and Activities

Programs include technical trainings, peer-to-peer forums, and applied research supporting wetland delineation, monitoring, and restoration. Activities have addressed topics like mitigation banking in coordination with entities such as the Federal Highway Administration and the Council on Environmental Quality, and water resources planning linked to initiatives by the Environmental Protection Agency and the United States Army Corps of Engineers. The association organizes conferences and workshops attended by participants from the Society of Wetland Scientists, the American Planning Association, and state commissions including the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection. It also facilitates pilot projects in partnership with laboratories like the USGS National Wetlands Research Center and nonprofit implementers including Conservation International.

Policy and Advocacy

The association provides technical comments and policy analysis on rulemaking by agencies such as the Environmental Protection Agency and the United States Army Corps of Engineers, engages in stakeholder dialogues with congressional committees including the United States Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works and the United States House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and contributes expertise to interagency efforts coordinated by the Council on Environmental Quality. It advocates for science-based definitions and jurisdictional clarity informed by studies from institutions like Harvard University and policy centers such as the Resources for the Future. The organization has submitted formal comments on regulatory proposals influenced by cases like Solid Waste Agency of Northern Cook County v. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

Publications and Resources

The association publishes technical reports, guidance documents, and policy briefs drawing on research from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine and peer-reviewed literature in journals such as Wetlands, Journal of Environmental Management, and Ecological Applications. Resources include training manuals on wetland delineation, white papers on mitigation banking, and compilations of state statutes and regulations comparable to inventories maintained by the Environmental Law Institute and the Pew Charitable Trusts. The organization also produces newsletters and case studies referenced by practitioners at EPA regional offices, state agencies, and academic programs at schools like the University of Florida and the University of Washington.

Partnerships and Funding

Funding and partnerships combine federal grants, foundation support, and contracts with entities such as the Environmental Protection Agency, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, and philanthropic organizations including the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation and the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation. Collaborative projects have involved the World Bank on international wetland initiatives, bilateral cooperation with agencies like Environment and Climate Change Canada, and programmatic alliances with conservation NGOs including The Nature Conservancy and Wetlands International. The association leverages partnerships with research centers such as the Smithsonian Institution and regional commissions like the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission to advance wetland science and policy.

Category:Wetland conservation organizations Category:Environmental nonprofits based in the United States